Track for miniature electric trains



Aug, 14, 1928.

B. L. wALKUP BELT CLAMP Filed Dec. 2, 1927 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

l PATENT KOFFICE.

WALTER E. THAYEE, or Locxronr, NEW YORK.

This invention relates" to Vtoy railway tracks, that is tracks for-miniature electric trains, and the general `object is to provide e, an; improved track' section for such trains which may be readily assembled and readily engaged with other track sections..

A fmtherobject is to provide improved meansfor faeteningfthe rails of the tracks.

to the tios. y y

VA still further 'ect his `to provide a middle rail and rovi improved means for the mid le rail inplace, the middle rail at its ends being free to move to'a slight extent' so that `the lmiddle rail may be en* gaged with the middle rails of other track sections where the middle rail Ais higher than in the track which I have devised.

Another is to provide an improved metallic connection or conductor between the ,outer rails for insuring better flow of the Velectric current, and to provide means where by electric terminal wires maybe connected to the rails. f f e l Otherobjects will appear'in the course of the following description.

My invention is illumated' in the accompanying drawing, wherein l' F'gure l is a top plan view of a track constrncted in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 ofiFrgure' 1'" Figure 3 ,is a section on theline 3 3 of Figure 1; v

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one end of the track, the tie at this end being in section.

Referring to this drawing, 10 designates the wooden ties of the track section and 11 the rails. These rails are made of thin metal and are bent so as to form a bead which constitutes a head 12 and the two parallel webs 13. The ties 10 are -transversely slotted, as at 14, for the reception of the web 13 and the rails are held upon the ties by transverse pins `15 extending longitudinally through the ends of each tie and through the webs ofthe outer rails. VThe tie may be initially bored for the .reception of this pin or the pin may be drlven longitudinally through the tie. i

It is to be noted that the middle slot 14 is not as deeply cut as the slots on each side thereof so that the middle rail is higher than the two lateral rails.` T his is for the purpose of joining this part1cular track section with other makes of track section which YTRACK FOEMINATURE ELECTRIC 4TRAINS.

Application ld November22, 1927. Serial No. 235,004.

have the center rail higher due to their'A peculiar construction. The middle rail of each mediatev its ends byv nails or pins 16, as shown-in Figure 1, driven diagonally down- Ward through the web 13 of the rail, and'into the tie. Preferably each rail section has -a .tie at cach extremity and the middle rails are unattached to these end'ties, thus permitting the middle rail at its ends to be ad- `justed vertically or be free to adjust themselves toother makes of track which may vary in the height of their middle rails.

The middle rail -and either one of the sideV rails may beapertured at 17 'for the' purpose of attaching electric terminal wires, such Vsection of track is held to the ties inter-f,

connections being made by bolts or spring.`

.having its ends bent upward, as at 19.

The tie is formed upon its under face with recesses 20 which intersect the kerfs`14. 'l .i The ends 19 are extended upward through these recesses 20and into the kerfs 14 and when the rail is put in place the web of the rail 13 will bear tightly against and have a .devices which form no part of my present` f invention. Metallic conduct-ing members,

close electrical connection with the ends 19.

The extremities of these angularly bent portions 19 are clenched by means of a punch Which strikes these bent over extremities 21 and forces them down into the Wood, this punch at the Same time making a recess into which the extremities are forced. Thus this metallic conductor is clenched in place and cannot get out of place and constitutes a good bond between the outer rails.

lVhile I have illustrated and described straight sections of track having my improvements applied thereto, it will be understood that these improvements might be applied to curved sections containing perhaps more ties than straight sections, to switches either mechanically or electrically operated, to Crossovers, sidings, etc. Preferably the rails Willbe made of rust-proof metal and the connections will be made of copper. Thus the tracks may be used out of doors.

VThe rails are made in such a manner as to noy make the sections of track stiff and at the saine time'prevent injury to the fingers of a child assembling or disassembling the track. The rails and ties may be made as ilu .,ing a' web extending down into said kerfs and a pin extending through one end of each tie and through the web of the rail. A

2. In a miniature railway, a tie having a transverse kerf, a rail of thin sheet metal `formed to provide a hollow bead constitut-A ing the hea-d of the rail, and parallel portions constituting the web of the rail, the web being inserted within the kerf, anda pin extending through the end of the tie and through the web of the rail and holding the latter in place.

3.., In a miniature track, a plurality of ties, each tie having three transverse kerfs, the lateral kerfs extending below the level of Vthe middle kerf. rails each having a web insertible into said kerfs, the middle rail being above the lateral rails, meansr lockingr the lateral rails in place upon the tie, andv independent means for locking the middle frail upon certain of the ties.

4r. In a miniature electric railway track, ties having transverse kerfs, metallic rails having webs inserted in said kerfs, and bonding connections connecting said rails, each "connection comprising a strip of copper extending along the bottom of a tie and having its endsextended upward into metallic contact with the rails and the extremities of said upwardly extending ends being clenched upon the tie.

5. In a miniature railway, ties having transverse kerfs, metallic rails having webs inserted in said kerfs, certain of the ties having recesess extending upward from the bottom of the tie and intersecting said kerfs, metallic strips disposed against the bottom ofthe tie and having upwardly extending end portions inserted through said recesses:

into the kerfs and having tight electrical connection with the webs lofthe rails, the.:

extremities ot said upwardly extended portions being clenched downward into the tie. 6. In a track section for miniature electric railways, ties, each having three .transverse kerfs, a middle rail and two lateral. rails f having webs formedtoengage' in said'kerfs,

themiddle rail being connected to thetiesr intermediate its ends andthe `ends of the middle rail being vertically movable with f relation to the ties whereby the Aends may be adjusted HO illignment'with the ends of adjacent middle rails. f

7 In a track section for miniature electricf railways, a rail having a web,'ties forth@ ends of the rails and the intermediate por4 tions of the rail, each .tie having a kerf witbin which the web is inserted whereby' the to the ties, and means connectingr the rail 'to the tiesintermediate the :ends ofthe rails whereby the ends ofthey rails mayI bever-M tically `moved withV relation to the corresponding tie without detaching the web from the kerfs of the end ties. i

l rail is held fromflateral movement relative f In testimony whereof I hereuntozax my f signature. i p

WALTER E. THAYER. A* 

